Shell Access to Energy joins hands with Liter of Light

Dec 19, 2017

Global power, energy, and gas technology leader Shell recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Liter of Light, a global movement that provides affordable, sustainable solar power, in an effort to light up indigent communities in Angat, Bulacan.

The initiative falls under Shell’s Access to Energy (A2E) campaign that promotes the value of sustainable energy by establishing alternative sources particularly in rural communities that have no immediate prospect of being connected to any electricity grid.

“Shell is committed to continuously be a partner in nation-building. This partnership contributes to our objective of constantly helping communities and to be an energy company that strives to make a positive difference,” said Mon del Rosario, Shell Vice President for External and Government Relations.

The partnership also aims to encourage communities and customers to produce less waste and carbon emissions through the donation of PET bottles that will be converted into sources of light.

PET bottles as solar-powered light bulbs

The first phase of the project will transform an initial 60 Shell retail stations all over Metro Manila into recycling stations where customers can donate PET bottles which will be made into solar-powered light bulbs for homes. Liter of Light will provide the technical expertise in creating solar batteries that will fuel the bulbs.

“We saw the perfect partner in My Shelter Foundation, which is the umbrella organization of Liter of Light. The more bottles Filipinos can donate, the more lights we can create for families who need them. Our customers get to support the cause by helping lessen waste and build more light,” explained Mark Malabanan, Shell Fuels Brand Manager.

For her part, Silvana Ancellotti-Diaz, treasurer and mother of social entrepreneur Illac Ancellotti-Diaz, founder of Liter of Light, affirmed the vital role of multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing the cause of increasing access to energy for more far-flung communities.

“We have to work together to help communities, because lifting up the country from poverty requires collaborative work. We need more corporations to address the social causes linked with poverty and energy security. If a family can save on electricity, they have more money to buy food, send children to school, and do more activities after sundown,” she noted.

The second phase of the partnership will allot a day in January 2018, wherein every liter of fuel bought by customers in select retail stations will have an equivalent amount of monetary donation to be accumulated and given to Liter of Light.

Improving access to energy is part of how Shell drives inclusive growth and nation-building, apart from its innovative energy solutions that broaden the energy mix in the country, uphold energy efficiency, smarter fuels and lubricants technology, cleaner-burning natural gas, and sustainable mobility. ###